This is an experiment about three objects of the same exact size, but different masses.It is a common experiment to test the density's of a Diet Coke can and a Coke can. Immersing them both in water and the coke can creates a higher volume. Surprisingly, one has a higher density than the other,even though they are the same size. The difference in densities made us wonder which one would drop faster under equal conditions. From looking at the cans we knew that they contained the same amount of liquids inside, 355 mL.
We got this idea from reading the physics experiments from last year. The experiment was Christian Roughton and Ari Allen's titled Acceleration and Momentum of Objects on a ramp. The purpose of our experiment was to determine which would roll down a ramp faster.
Procedure
For our experiment we needed a triple beam balance, a ~ 50 inch long ramp, a stop watch, a ruler, an unopened diet coke can, an unopened coke can, and an empty coke can. We started by measuring the weight of the coke and diet coke cans and recorded our data. We obtained a piece of wood suitable for our experiment from the laboratory. We found a flat surface to lay the ramp on propped up the ramp two inches on one side and laid the other side flat on the floor. We weighed the liquids again to make sure we had the correct weights and then began our trials. Before rolling the cans down the ramp we measured to see where the center of the ramp was and the center of the cans. Then we rolled placed the cans in the very center and released them. We tested the coke first and timed the coke can from the top of the ramp all the way down to the bottom of the ramp until we heard it hit the floor. We repeated this trial ten times in a row, making sure each time the coke was dropped down exactly the middle of the ramp. After we completed ten trials with the Classic Coke can we did ten trials with the Diet Coke can under the exact same conditions, and then after that an empty coke can. We recorded the data in a note book the time, in seconds, it took the coke to travel the approximate 50 inch ramp. We took the average of all the trials afterwards.
Results
The chart below is the time it took for each respective object to roll down the 50 inch ramp and hit the floor. The data is in seconds:
ClassicCoke
DietCoke
EmptyCokeCan
3.0
2.6
4.5
2.7
2.8
4.4
2.7
2.6
3.5
2.3
2.7
4.2
2.7
2.2
4.6
2.5
2.6
4.7
2.6
2.5
4.5
2.8
2.8
4.2
2.5
2.6
4.2
2.7
2.3
4.5
The results between the Diet Coke can and the Coke can are very similar. The average of the Diet Coke can's time is slightly less then the average of the Classic Coke can. This is interesting because the Diet Coke can weighs less then the Classic Coke can. We thought that the Classic Coke would be slightly faster than the Diet Coke can due to the weight and momentum the Classic Coke can has. Originally we assumed that if we had a longer ramp then the Classic Coke can would reach the bottom of the ramp in less time because it would have more space to gain momentum from it's heavier weight.
The chart below is the average time it took for each respective object to roll down the 50 inch ramp and hit the floor The data is in seconds:
AverageClassicCoke
AverageDietCoke
EmptyCokeCan
2.7
2.6
4.3
Afterwords we calculated the P value between each of the cans to see if there was a statistically significant difference between the times listed in our results. These are the results we found: 1. Diet Coke vs. Coke: p=.3647 2. Coke vs. Empty: p=1.60 x 10^-6 3. Diet Coke vs. Empty: p=7.33 x 10^-10
Conclusions
Which would drop faster under equal conditions? Our data answers that on average the Diet Coke can dropped just a little bit faster than the Coke and a lot faster than the empty can.
Although we noted a significant difference in the weights between coke and diet coke, there was not as big as a difference in the time trials of our experiment. To understand our results further we performed several different T-test.
The T-test's showed us that there was a statistically significant difference between the data sets coke + empty, and diet coke + empty. Both of their T-tests obtained numbers that were very very small. The difference between the Coke and Diet Coke was not as significant. This means that even though there was a difference of around 20 grams in the weight of the objects, there was not a statistical difference in the time it took for the objects to roll down the ramp.
If we tested multiples ramps with different lengths we may have yielded different results.
Table of Contents
Which drops faster: Coke or Diet Coke?
Alex, Becky
Introduction
This is an experiment about three objects of the same exact size, but different masses.It is a common experiment to test the density's of a Diet Coke can and a Coke can. Immersing them both in water and the coke can creates a higher volume. Surprisingly, one has a higher density than the other,even though they are the same size. The difference in densities made us wonder which one would drop faster under equal conditions. From looking at the cans we knew that they contained the same amount of liquids inside, 355 mL.We got this idea from reading the physics experiments from last year. The experiment was Christian Roughton and Ari Allen's titled Acceleration and Momentum of Objects on a ramp. The purpose of our experiment was to determine which would roll down a ramp faster.
Procedure
For our experiment we needed a triple beam balance, a ~ 50 inch long ramp, a stop watch, a ruler, an unopened diet coke can, an unopened coke can, and an empty coke can. We started by measuring the weight of the coke and diet coke cans and recorded our data. We obtained a piece of wood suitable for our experiment from the laboratory. We found a flat surface to lay the ramp on propped up the ramp two inches on one side and laid the other side flat on the floor. We weighed the liquids again to make sure we had the correct weights and then began our trials. Before rolling the cans down the ramp we measured to see where the center of the ramp was and the center of the cans. Then we rolled placed the cans in the very center and released them. We tested the coke first and timed the coke can from the top of the ramp all the way down to the bottom of the ramp until we heard it hit the floor. We repeated this trial ten times in a row, making sure each time the coke was dropped down exactly the middle of the ramp. After we completed ten trials with the Classic Coke can we did ten trials with the Diet Coke can under the exact same conditions, and then after that an empty coke can. We recorded the data in a note book the time, in seconds, it took the coke to travel the approximate 50 inch ramp. We took the average of all the trials afterwards.
Results
The chart below is the time it took for each respective object to roll down the 50 inch ramp and hit the floor. The data is in seconds:
The results between the Diet Coke can and the Coke can are very similar. The average of the Diet Coke can's time is slightly less then the average of the Classic Coke can. This is interesting because the Diet Coke can weighs less then the Classic Coke can. We thought that the Classic Coke would be slightly faster than the Diet Coke can due to the weight and momentum the Classic Coke can has. Originally we assumed that if we had a longer ramp then the Classic Coke can would reach the bottom of the ramp in less time because it would have more space to gain momentum from it's heavier weight.
The chart below is the average time it took for each respective object to roll down the 50 inch ramp and hit the floor The data is in seconds:
Afterwords we calculated the P value between each of the cans to see if there was a statistically significant difference between the times listed in our results. These are the results we found:
1. Diet Coke vs. Coke: p=.3647
2. Coke vs. Empty: p=1.60 x 10^-6
3. Diet Coke vs. Empty: p=7.33 x 10^-10
Conclusions
Which would drop faster under equal conditions? Our data answers that on average the Diet Coke can dropped just a little bit faster than the Coke and a lot faster than the empty can.
Although we noted a significant difference in the weights between coke and diet coke, there was not as big as a difference in the time trials of our experiment. To understand our results further we performed several different T-test.
The T-test's showed us that there was a statistically significant difference between the data sets coke + empty, and diet coke + empty. Both of their T-tests obtained numbers that were very very small. The difference between the Coke and Diet Coke was not as significant. This means that even though there was a difference of around 20 grams in the weight of the objects, there was not a statistical difference in the time it took for the objects to roll down the ramp.
If we tested multiples ramps with different lengths we may have yielded different results.
References
LaRosa, Liz. "Density Demonstration." Middle School Science Density Demonstration. 12 Oct. 2008. Web. 01 Feb. 2011. <http://www.middleschoolscience.com/dietcoke.htm>.Christian Roughtun, Ari Allen. Pisci.Wikispaces.com 2009 physics experiments.
http://pisci.wikispaces.com/How+Mass+Affects+The+Rate+of+Acceleration+and+Momentum+When+Rolling+Down+a+Ramp+and+Then+Falling+Onto+the+Floor